Contemporary Collection: 5 Dynamic Island Homes

Modern lines and contemporary design put beach cottage expectations out to sea for this handful of unusual American island homes

May 23, 2012
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
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Island life conjures up many things, from shacky shingled beach cottages to primitive Caribbean huts. While I love a typical cozy beach cottage bedecked in cottage shingles outside and traditional beadboard inside, recent Houzz Tours have me rethinking the best ways to enjoy island settings. In these examples, expansive windows and doors take the place of small shuttered windows; minimal detailing brings the focus to the views outside. Shifting from shingle style to contemporary can be quite a shock; see if it entices you.
Contemporary Exterior by Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
1. Kiawah Island, South Carolina

This home takes full advantage of its lagoon views and resembles a lantern when lit up at night.
Contemporary Living Room by Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
Expansive walls of glass blur the lines between indoors and out. Motorized shades provide privacy and shade when needed. Obviously, in a typical one-house-on-top-of-another beach community, living in a fishbowl would be less than ideal, but in this setting it works.

The wood floors and ceiling, along with the tall stone fireplace, add warmth to the wide-open space.
Contemporary Bedroom by Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
Christopher A Rose AIA, ASID
Upstairs, the bedroom's large glass windows and high ceiling create a lofty treehouselike retreat. While I love the coziness of the cramped typical beach house bedrooms I'm used to, I imagine this would be an unbelievably relaxing way to enjoy island life.

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Beach Style Exterior by Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
2. Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Moving up the East Coast, this house combines the area's traditional shingle style with contemporary industrial style.
Contemporary Dining Room by Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
Recycled wood and vintage chairs add rustic and groovy touches, while high ceilings, marine lights, large swaths of white paint and metal beams and railings lend an overall contemporary look.
Contemporary Bedroom by Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
Richard Bubnowski Design LLC
Horizontally oriented pine planks are a contemporary take on traditional beach cottage beadboard. They create a cozier area for the bed, serve as a visual headboard and make the space appear bigger.

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Modern Exterior by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
3. Long Island, New York


Right up the Atlantic coast, Beacon Hill Colony was once a community of sand and gravel pit workers' shacks. People have been snapping up this waterfront property, tearing down existing shacks and rebuilding; these homeowners wanted to respect the site, their neighbors and the earth when they hired architect Stuart Narofsky.

Because of height and size limitations, Narofsky came up with a brilliant plan to build down into the hillside. This maximized space and views while nestling the house right into the topography.
Modern Living Room by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Narofsky brought in reclaimed wood from New York City brownstones for the ceiling. Its beauty and texture allowed him to leave the ceiling open to the beams, adding height.
Modern Kitchen by Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
Narofsky Architecture + ways2design
The wood grain on the contemporary cabinets emphasizes horizontal lines.

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Contemporary Exterior Contemporary Exterior
4. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

Farther up the coast, Workshop/apd created a home with a modern feel inside that blends in with the shingled cottages the island is so famous for.
Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen
The two-story, open first floor is a delightful surprise. Clean lines, a cathedral ceiling, white paint and natural light make the house appear much larger than it is.
Contemporary Kids Contemporary Kids
Not everything is strictly unadorned and white; the family incorporates collections of their favorite objects into the home with brilliant editing and composition, and without hesitation.

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Contemporary by Wendy K. Leigh
Wendy K. Leigh
5. Raft Island, Puget Sound, Washington

This contemporary home was a labor of love, designed by an architect for his artistic parents and filled with art and collectibles from all four of their grown children.
Contemporary by Wendy K. Leigh
Wendy K. Leigh
The home maximizes the view of Puget Sound. The live-edge table was fashioned by the architect's father from a sequoia tree.
Eclectic Bathroom by Wendy K. Leigh
Wendy K. Leigh
The guest bathroom combines a concrete counter with ceramic tiles. The architect and his mother composed a collection of antique metal linotypes atop the tile to create a unique backsplash.

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Tell us: So, what did you think? Would you turn your idea of island living on its head and forgo a week in a typical beach house for a week in a clean-lined contemporary casa like one of these? Let us know in the Comments section.

More:
Houzz Tour: Style and Surprise in the Hamptons
A Different Kind of Beach House
Houzz Tour: Malibu Architectural
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Comments (10)
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Becky Harris
Mrs. Ben, check out this ideabook, I think you'll like it!

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/pictures/dining-rooms/contemporary-dining-room-woodland-creek-furniture-img~b161a5e50d06d2f2_9-9428-1-a93808c.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/dining-rooms/contemporary-dining-room-woodland-creek-furniture-img~b161a5e50d06d2f2_9428-1-a93808c-w240-h245-b0-p0.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="245" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,93578);return false;"/>
Ideabook: Loving Wood's Live Edge · See Ideabook
   
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PRO
INTERIOR MOTIVES & ASSOC
Either way works for me as long as the ocean is nearby.
   
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Autumn Barnum
#1!
   

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